There’s a place that exists where every single human no matter their rank or station is of equal worth and highest value. There is a place where things like gender and skin color have no power to separate and subjugate and discriminate. There is a place where children and the poor and women thrive, where foreigners and the weak and the lowly are given equivalent standing, where there is no need to “fight the patriarchy” or “tax the rich”. There is no “toxic masculinity” or “me too” movements. Pro-life and pro-choice are unnecessary monikers and “Black Lives Matter” is obvious because white lives matter, brown lives matter, and all shades of skin matter. This place is where men and women walk free and can live in the fullness of peace and joy alongside one another, where we don’t compete or abuse or manipulate.
This place was once a progressive destination, a revolutionary awakening for a people who had lived by survival of the fittest and by satisfying the desires of the flesh. The world was run by the strong and the powerful and the weak and the needy were only objects that could be used for the enjoyment of the elites. Children were sacrificed at will to material gods and sexual desire, along with women who only existed to give men pleasure and populate cities. Death and disease were expected companions of humanity and the world burned with chaos and mayhem.
But then, something happened that no one expected. A man appeared who spoke life to the dead. He gave His Word and He kept it. He made the blind see and the lame walk. He told women they were exactly who they were supposed to be and He set the captives free. He taught husbands and wives to love and cherish marriage. He taught parents to care for their children. He taught that every life is precious. He showed us that race is only a construct. He led humanity to a place where they no longer had to be slaves to their lusts. He made a place for us to reside in a home not made by human hands where nothing gets lost or broken or stolen. Where we can find healing and hope, where faith, hope, and love exist forever and ever.
But the darkness hates the light, because evil hates being exposed. And the author of anarchy knew his time was growing short so he caused those who follow him to destroy this man who brought order to a disordered world. So the man died a torturous death, humiliated and mocked. But His truth had already gone out. His light had already overcome the shadows and His life was too powerful for death. And by defeating sin and death forever, He brought meaning to suffering, goodness to hardship, and became the proof of God’s perfect love. Suddenly, men didn’t need to hurt women and children. They instead believed God and learned to love and became protectors of the weak. Women didn’t need to wish they weren’t female or use their bodies to succeed, but they could rest in who they were made to be, and gladly use their gifts to submit to their Godly authority, and be the cultivators of life and beauty. Children were suddenly seen and cherished and families could grow and flourish. Neighbors could love each other no matter their differences, and communities could grow in peace. Every person could be honored and respected and nations could be free. The devil’s plan had been severely damaged and the world rejoiced as truth, goodness, and beauty filled the land.
But the enemy is a crafty deceiver and he keeps so many blinded to the truth. So people live as though this revolutionary never came to set us free. And they continue on captive as slaves to their flesh. They think that building their kingdom here on earth will keep them safe, but little do they know they are digging their own grave. Little do they know there is a place where they can stop striving. There is a place where they have a perfect king in a perfect government who will never leave them or forsake them. So they try to do things the old way. They regress into death and destruction, helping the prince of this world succeed in his old evil ways.
But for those who are saved, we can see that there is a place where we can be perfected into everything we need for eternity. This place is where there is fullness of life. This place is in Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life and in Christ, the old way is gone and the new has come. In Christ, we can be free of the law of sin and death, and we can live fully in peace with our fellow man. In this place, we have joy and peace and life abundant. It’s in this place that men do not use those weaker than themselves for pleasure. It’s in this place that women know their intrinsic value and do not need to usurp men to find their place in this world and do not need to allow their bodies to be used as currency. It’s in this place where every child carries the value given by the Father. It’s in this place where we can freely build lives instead of empires, where the weak are made strong and the forgotten are remembered. It’s in this place that we remember we are all parts of one body, and we are one in Christ, in this revolutionary ethic of love. There is no freedom without order, and there is no order without God. Christ Jesus made us free for freedom’s sake and we should never forget the amazing gift of His life, death, and resurrection that brought the world into modern thinking. Without this place in Christ, our world would remain shrouded in darkness and disorder. And in many ways it still is. But if you want to know where is the place that is perfect and complete, it is in Christ. Where everyone is free.
Have you ever given something so much time and attention that it became a problem? And contrary, have you ever neglected something so greatly it became an even bigger problem? Lets dive into something that could easily fall into either of those categories…lets talk SELF-CARE!